One of the main focus of the Sarawak election is the battle for Chinese votes in at least 12 seats, mostly in the southern and central regions.

This time around, land has become the central issue. Or rather the renewal of thousands of expiring 60-year land leases for agriculture, industrial, commercial and residential purposes in growing urban centres like Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

It is in these areas that the Chinese-based Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) - a Barisan Nasional component party - and the opposition DAP are locking horns to win over Chinese voters.

Except for Kidurong and two seats in Sibu, DAP has so far failed to win any state seat.

However, the May 20 state election might just allow the opposition party to retain its Kidurong seat and bag a few more since pundits are predicting a slip in popular votes for BN.

Even several BN leaders - especially from Supp - acknowledge this slip in popularity. But will it translate into seats for DAP?

One analyst painted a pessimistic picture. "You must remember the opposition is up against the awesome power and resources of BN parties," he told malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng described the impending contests as 'tough'. He will be standing in Bukit Assek against Supp's Daniel Ngieng.

Hefty rates?

One of the main issues in the campaign is the renewal of land leases.

Supp Sibu branch chairperson and state Second Finance Minister Wong Soon Koh said the government had already approved about 800 applications for the renewal of 60-year leases.

But DAP's Wong said he had seen the letters conveying the approval decision and the conditions for renewal were not stated.

According to him, about 80 percent of the approved applications are for agriculture and country land which carry a renewal premium of RM200 per acre.

What about leases for commercial and residential land? he asked

Local newspapers quoted Soon Koh as saying that the government has yet to deternine the premium rates for the renewal of residential and industrial lands in urban centres.

There has been a lot of anxiety among urban lease-holders that the premium rates could be hefty. For example, the premium rate for residential lots is between 40 percent and 60 percent based on the market value of land.

The opposition has noted that a 1742-sq-ft residential lot with a building sited on it could require a payment of as much as RM40,000.

However, Soon Koh told reporters in Sibu yesterday the rates would be reasonable to the people and at the same time would ensure revenue for the government.

Generally, the suggestion from many quarters is for the town land to be converted into freehold or at least for 99 years if not 999 years. But this was rejected by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The land issue coupled with problems surrounding Chinese education matters and contracts given to 'cronies' could bolster DAP's chances.

An observer noted that Supp also suffered from a lack of rejuvenation as far as candidates are concerned. "You don't see many new faces," he said.

DAP, on the other hand, is fielding many new and young faces. Among them, is 29-year-old lawyer Violet Yong Wui Wui.

She will take on Supp secretary-general and state assistant minister Sim Kheng Hui, who is in his 60s.

Map of Sarawak state seats